Lincoln's Postmaster Career

[Gene C]

On this day in history, June 14, Abraham Lincoln closed his accounts as postmaster of New Salem.

More, on Abraham Lincoln Online
http://abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/...uiz696.htm

Mail delivery hasn't been the same in New Salem since.

I'd have posted this earlier, but my email is running a bit slow.

[LincolnMan]

Gene, I read the entry on Lincoln’s brief appointment as Postmaster of New Salem. So, I gather he was the only one then? There was no one appointed to the position after him?

[LincolnMan]

Or before?

[RJNorton]

"But he (Lincoln) was looking for a chance to become something more than a laborer; and on May 7, 1833, his ambition was gratified to some extent when he was appointed postmaster at New Salem, succeeding Samuel Hill. His explanation of his securing the position under President Jackson when he was "an avowed Clay man," was that the office was "too insignificant to make his politics an objection." He retained the position until the removal of the office to Petersburg on May 30, 1836."

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln2/05...w=fulltext

[LincolnMan]

It seemed he enjoyed that job very much.

[AussieMick]

Maybe its anecdotal, but I rather liked that he was able to read the newspapers and journals for free.
( I imagine his customers receiving their copies and wondering why the pages always seemed to lack newness)

[LincolnMan]

(11-28-2022 05:29 PM)AussieMick Wrote:  Maybe its anecdotal, but I rather liked that he was able to read the newspapers and journals for free.
( I imagine his customers receiving their copies and wondering why the pages always seemed to lack newness)

My thoughts exactly!